“Has something occurred to trouble you?” he inquired, a slight frown creasing his brow.
Yes! she wanted to cry but could not. She sought words with which to ask him if all her hopes and dreams were for naught but none came. At last she asked him to accompany her to the library and led the way.
The puppy sprang to its feet the moment she entered the room, pawing at the barrier as it whimpered for attention. Miles went to it at once, picking it up and receiving its frantic licks. Over the top of its head he asked, “One of Gussie Wrexham’s?” He stroked the pup’s soft fur. “I’ve thought of getting one too.”
And there was her opportunity.
She swallowed, very much afraid. In the next few minutes she would know. “This one is for you.”
He looked up at that, his brow snapping down. “Why?”
“So you will have something to love.” There, she’d said it, she’d actually gotten it out and there could be no turning back. She’d seized her opportunity and now she would find out if she were too late.
He regarded her with a slight frown. “I’m afraid I do not understand.”
“She is an engagement present,” Phoebe declared before her faltering nerve could vanish altogether.
“Engagement?” He regarded her from beneath his lowered brow, studying her, his expression giving nothing away. “Somewhat precipitous, perhaps.”
“Is it?” She held her breath. Did this mean he had not yet offered for Lady Sophia?
“Why,” he said softly, “do you think I should need something to love? Especially if I am on the verge of becoming engaged?”
“Then you haven’t offered for her!” Phoebe exclaimed. “Oh I am so glad. But you mustn’t do it.” Once started, the words rushed from her. “She wouldn’t suit you in the least. She could not possibly love you as much as—” She broke off, stemming the flow just in time.
“Wouldn’t she?” He watched her closely, a task made difficult by the frantically licking tongue that assailed his chin. “Of whom, by the way, are we speaking?”
“Why, Lady Sophia, of course. Lucy said—” She broke off, faltering at his expression of mingled consternation and amusement. “Lucy!” she breathed in dawning horror. “You-you never had any intention whatsoever of offering for Lady Sophia, did you? Did you?” she demanded.
“None in the least. We are very old friends, I must admit but I find I desire a great deal more than that with the lady I marry.”
Phoebe drew an unsteady breath. “Lucy is every bit as much a meddler as ever you could be,” she declared with savage feeling.
“It seems to run in our family.” Very slowly he closed the distance between them. In one arm he still held the squirming puppy but his other hand encircled the nape of her neck. “Do you not want to know what it is I desire in marriage?” His fingers strayed along her skin, tickling in the fine hairs that lined her neck.
Phoebe looked down, her heart pounding. “I-I beg your pardon. I seem to have made a complete fool of myself. And when I see your sister I shall strangle her.”
“Rather extreme, don’t you think?” His thumb reached her jaw, stroking it gently, followed by fingers that trailed down her throat. He had begun to smile. “Her meddling was well intentioned if unnecessary. But then you must remember she had no idea I had matters well in hand. She probably feared I would never get around to it so she gave you a push.” His thumb traced the line of her lower lip and his hand cupped her chin. “You did imply something about loving me, did you not?”
Her cheeks burned. “I-I was laboring under a misapprehension. And if you were at all a gentleman you would have the decency to ignore ridiculous statements made when…” She faltered, searching for an explanation that might not sound wholly ridiculous.
“This is one moment when I believe I shall prefer not to be a gentleman.”
He released her chin only to encircle her shoulders with his arm and draw her to him. His mouth closed over hers, demanding, both sweet and urgent. She melted against him, clinging to all she thought she had lost. His lips brushed her cheek, found her mouth again and conscious thought ebbed away.
A protesting yip, followed by a brisk licking of her chin, brought her back to a sense of her surroundings. Miles, chuckling softly, released her and set the pup by the hearth. The look he directed at Phoebe set her pulse racing.
“I’ve been wanting to do that since that first night I saw you perched on the railing in Queen’s Square, trying to reach that window sill,” he informed her.
She swallowed, still finding it difficult to breathe. “I’ve been wanting you to.”
The door opened and Lucy burst in, dragging Ashby by the hand. “There you are, Miles. Simon has something he particularly wishes to ask you.” She thrust her companion forward then cast Phoebe a sideways eager glance.
Ashby grinned. “She seems to feel I must ask your formal permission to pay my addresses to her.”
Miles’ eyebrows rose. “Does she indeed? Now why should that surprise me?”
Lucy blushed. “Don’t be disagreeable, dear Miles. You know perfectly well you like things done in the proper manner.”
“I do, yes. But it comes as a surprise to hear that you do too.” He turned to Ashby. “Is she suitably aware of the honor you do her?”
“Miles!” Lucy protested.
He fixed her with a reproachful look. “My dear girl, you come bursting in here, interrupting me in the middle of an extremely important discussion, just to—”
“Did I?” Her countenance brightened and she spun to face Phoebe. “Dear Miss Caldicot, pray say you will marry him. It would be the very thing.”
Phoebe clasped her hands before her. “I cannot possibly.”
Lucy’s face fell. “But—”
“He has not asked me.”
“Really, Miles.” She regarded him in exasperation. “Never did I think you to be such a slowtop. Whatever is keeping you?”
Miles, who had drawn his snuffbox from his pocket during this discussion, offered the box to Ashby then took an infinitesimal pinch himself. “Lack of opportunity.”
“Well of all the ridiculous things to say!” Lucy exclaimed. “When we left you in here until I could not bear the suspense a moment longer. Whatever have you been doing this last half hour and more?”
“Ashby,” Miles said, “unless you wish me to forbid the banns, you will oblige me by removing my sister.”
Ashby grinned. “Come along, Lucy.”
“But Simon!” Lucy stood her ground. “Only look how much time he has wasted. He will never get around to it if we don’t stay here to give him the nudge.”
“Ashby?” Miles’ voice took on a threatening note.
That gentleman took a firm grip on Lucy’s arm and dragged her from the room. At the threshold he turned back. “She has a point, you know,” he said then shut the door before Miles could say anything more.
Miles studied the door for a long minute as if he expected it to burst open once more. When it did not he gave a nod of satisfaction and turned back to Phoebe. “Now that we are rid of my tiresome sister we may finish our discussion.”
A soft growl sounded from the floor. Phoebe looked down to see the puppy working industriously on the toe of Miles’ evening slipper, his foot still in it. Obligingly he removed the shoe, handing it over to the delighted animal.
“You should not spoil her,” she protested.
“Managing,” he murmured. “Besides I am not spoiling her in the least. I merely wish to preserve my toes. And if you think Vines will ever permit that shoe into his care again after the mauling it has received you much mistake the matter.” He returned to her, placing his hands on her shoulders. “Can you overlook my meddling disposition?”
“It may cause a few arguments,” she admitted. “I am not one to be ridden over roughshod.”
“As I have already discovered.” The smile that lit his hazel eyes brightened. “But I couldn’t bear the thought of a wife who gave in to my every
unreasonable demand. And Lucy will tell you I’m apt to make many of them.”
“I’ll keep you reasonable,” she promised. “And I shall also demand my own turns at managing.”
“Agreed.” He drew her close, his mouth once more seeking hers, his arms pressing her tight against him. His lips brushed her eyes, her forehead then returned to claim her mouth once more.
At last, her head resting against his shoulder, he said, “You needn’t worry about your brother. I believe I know of a living that should become available in two or three years. And if that does not work out there are one or two others I believe might be suitable for him.
A shaky laugh escaped her. “I should have known your family alone could not provide you with sufficient scope for your meddling. Do you manage the affairs of everyone you know as well?”
“Only of those I love. Which reminds me, I have spent the better part of this week readying the estate for your arrival. I spoke to the vicar and he has agreed to post the banns this Sunday. Vines has promised to see to the hiring of an abigail for you and—”
“Managing,” she sighed and stopped him by the simple expedient of dragging his head down so she could kiss him. “And I shall hire my own abigail, thank you.”
“Managing,” he got out before she kissed him again.
Epilogue
Xanthe sat back from the shallow silver basin, a fond smile playing about her mouth. Seven white candles flickered before her, encircling the scrying bowl, reflecting off the water and the images of Phoebe and Miles locked securely in one another’s arms. Another satisfactory conclusion.
After a moment she picked up the extinguisher and doused the flames that had burned bright, sealing her magic. Phoebe wouldn’t need it anymore. The water rippled, sparkles of light danced into the air then the surface stilled, showing nothing but the mirrored bottom.
She looked at Titus. “I shall miss her.”
Titus blinked sleepy eyes.
“You too? But we mustn’t repine. She’ll be quite happy and with the four children they will have she’ll be very busy. But as for us, it’s almost time to be thinking of our next task.”
A series of staccato sounds emerged from the cat’s throat.
“No, not quite yet. We’ll see them safely wed first, never fear.” She mused for a moment then smiled. “This has been an unusually productive undertaking even for us, has it not?”
Titus twitched the end of his tail.
“Of course they might have all sorted out their lives on their own but I like to think we played some part in it. Hanna Brookstone and Charles Dauntry, Lucilla Saunderton and Simon, Lord Ashby. Even Mrs. Jane Mannering and Mr. Colney will make a match of it within a few more months. And Phoebe and Miles of course. No wonder it has all been so exhausting.”
Titus tilted his head and flicked an ear.
Xanthe looked at the candles she had not yet replaced in their ash wood cask and shook her head. “I don’t think so, not this time. I feel—” She broke off and came to her feet then strode to her window. Casting the drapes wide, she looked out into the night. For a long moment she gazed into the midnight sky of deep blue with its myriad stars and the thinnest crescent of a moon. The stars shimmered, basking her in iridescent light.
Starlight…
Smiling, she turned back into the room.
About the Author
Janice Bennett has the eclectic background often encountered in writers. She earned one B.A. degree in anthropology from UC Santa Cruz, another in classical civilizations from US Irvine, and an M.A. degree in folklore and mythology from UCLA. Over the years, she has worked as a bookkeeper, archaeologist, and college instructor in crafts, jewelry making, needlework and novel writing, and has been a frequent presenter of workshops on a variety of writing topics. She also teaches t’ai chi and is a certified hypnotherapist specializing in pain management.
To date, she has written nine novellas and twenty-one novels. She has won several awards, including two Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice awards and two Romantic Times Career Achievement Awards, for Time Travels and for Regencies.
Janice lives near the top of a sloping hillside on the outskirts of a tiny rural town, looking out over nothing but trees. With her reside her husband, her son, her computer and an assortment of birds, cats, dogs, guinea pigs, hamsters, fish, horses and any other animal currently in need of a home.
Janice welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
Tell Us What You Think
We appreciate hearing reader opinions about our books. You can email us at [email protected].
Also by Janice Bennett
Events Unlimited 1: Cold Turkey
Events Unlimited 2: Bunny Hop
Events Unlimited 3: Black Cats and Boondoggles
Events Unlimited 4: Hot Dogs
Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Whether you prefer ebooks or paperbacks, be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com for an erotic reading experience that will leave you breathless.
www.ellorascave.com
Candlelight Wish Page 19